Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor

If there is one single take away from Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor, let it be this: there is no greater influence on success than the power of optimism. Emotional control and mental fortitude are necessary for one to do their very best in any event, especially distance running. Too often, we focus on the physical training and neglect the mental mindset required to run competitively.

I had…

Winter Running Builds Toughness

Have you seen those bad-ass runners that hit the streets rain or shine, 52 weeks a year? They’re tough as nails and they should scare the crap out of you. Those men and women are true runners. They have the guts of Steve Prefontaine and the grit of John Wayne.

Toughness comes with conquering your fears and believing in yourself. Toughness is a result of early morning runs, late night runs after a…

Resolve to Run This Year

[dropcap]N[/dropcap]ew Year’s resolutions are like drunken promises. They sound wonderful, but they usually end up being forgotten or discarded in the light of day. The trick to making a good New Year’s resolution is to choose something that is both audacious and attainable.

Forget about losing weight, exercising more, or eating healthier. Those are just happy thoughts and daydreams. Instead pick…

6 Healthy and Delicious Recipes Featuring non-GMO Bob’s Red Mill Products

Healthy cooking starts with choosing the best ingredients. In my kitchen, we use only non-GMO products and the freshest ingredients. Not only does the food taste better, but we feel better about what our kids are eating. One brand that consistently delivers top quality products in Bob’s Red Mill. The following recipes feature various Bob’s Mill products in some of our favorite meals and snacks.

Hu…

How to Maintain Your Running Fitness Without Running

The cold winter air is moving into southern New Hampshire and my dark evening runs are becoming more about survival and less about fitness. So, I’m scaling back. I still run a few easy days each week on good weather days when the roads aren’t too slick and the winds aren’t brutally cold. But, now I supplement my routine with some time on the stationary bike watching Anthony Bourdain or reruns of

Running After Dark? You Need This Gear

Winter is the most dangerous time of year for road runners. Slippery conditions, low visibility, and shorter days can make running on the roads a scary experience. If you’re like me, and your stuck working a day job in the office, you really have two choices: get up early in the morning or head out after work in the early evening.  Either way, you should stay safe by making yourself highly…

Brooks Ghost 9: Comfort and Protection for the Long Run

I just finished my sixth race in as many weeks. Three of them were half marathons. Two were personal records. Last year, I had my foot in a boot and was nursing a stress fracture in my calcaneus. What’s changed? New shoes and a new training approach.

I’m 46 years old and stand 6′ 4″ tall. I’m not made for high mileage like the little guys you see winning all the marathons on television. And, at…

The 2016 Marine Corps Marathon was last Sunday. I received this message from my friend Kara on Sunday night:

My first reaction was physical. Goosebumps. My first thought was: What?! You passed out and ran another 11 miles to the finish? That’s Crazy Town. Then, after a moment of reflection, I was envious. This just might be the most epic marathon story ever told. 

Kara Seager is a high school…

The Runner’s World Half and Festival

The Runner’s World Half and Festival weekend was an amazing experience. But, for a crazy running nut like me, it was both an honor and a privilege to be chosen as an official race ambassador. I watched the legends, superstars, and celebrities from the pages of Runner’s World come to life in the steel town of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In between jaw-dropping moments of running fandom, I learned how…

Are you ready for a delicious breakfast recipe that tastes great and packs 30 grams of muscle-building protein? Pancakes are a favorite among runners because they’re a good source of carbohydrates, and let’s face it, a stack of pancakes and syrup is a guilty pleasure after a weekend long run. There’s no need to feel guilty about these healthy Strawberry Chocolate Pancakes.

Ingredients

6 oz. Gree…

Run Fast. Eat Slow. What does Shalane Flanagan eat?

Run Fast. Eat Slow. As a runner, a father of two, I totally support this philosophy. Healthy meals fuel our runs. But, just as important, mealtime should be a time for conversation, relaxation and good food. A breakfast conversation about the day ahead, a lunch with colleagues, and a dinner with family members full of lively discussion and laughter. Run Fast. Eat Slow.is a flavor-forward…

Not Great. But, Not Bad. Caught in No-Man’s Land

Last night, I raced the hilly FoxPoint Sunset 5-Miler along the tree-lined roads of historic Newington, NH.  It’s one of my favorite races of the year. The course keeps everyone honest and the volunteers are genuinely enthusiastic about putting on a great event for the running community.  The post-race barbecue alone is worth the price of registration.

After warming up for a mile or two with my…

Spitting in the Soup by Mark Johnson - Olympic Sports and Doping

Performance enhancing drugs are nothing new to Olympic sports. We vilify the users and quickly label athletes as white hats and black hats, but it’s not that simple. There are layers upon layers of chemical use in professional sports and many of the offenders we read about in the headlines are separated from their clean peers only by technicalities and razor-thin margins of ethical behavior.…

Thank you, Stranger! The Power of Road Race Spectators

Running is often a solitary struggle. For some, an impassive face hides the battles raging within. For others, a tortured grimace reveals the massive effort of racing. Keep pushing. Suffering is only temporary. Shut up, legs!

The faraway look you see in a runner’s eyes is real. I’ve completed races where I can’t recall crossing a bridge, or running past a national landmark. There comes a point in…

The Runner’s Alley Capital City Classic 10K starts and finishes in front of the New Hampshire State House. Runners take a rolling tour through the streets of downtown Concord cheered on by spectators and race volunteers. One hundred percent of the race proceeds benefit two nonprofit groups working to make Concord a better place to live. Intown Concord, an organization dedicated to improving the…

Running for Dummies… and Everyone Else

As far as sports go, running isn’t too difficult to figure out. Maybe that new ‘space-out’ thing they’re doing in South Korea is easier, but that’s about it. You put one foot in front of the other as fast as you can for as long as it takes to reach the finish line. It’s not rocket science.

Space-out competition in South Korea. Yes, it’s real.

However, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the…

The Altra One Junior is a running shoe for kids who love to run. My son is pretty serious about his running. He set a NH state half-marathon recordlast fall, led his cross country team to the state championships, and hopes to break 20 minutes in the 5K before entering 7th grade. He also loves his gear- tall socks, colorful shoes, and matching kit. So, when I gave him a pair of Altra One Jr.…